Dawson returned to the Southland Sharks in 2013[7][8] and continued on with them in 2014. In May 2014, the Sharks were forced to stand down Dawson after he tested positive for a banned drug.[9][10] Originally facing a two-year suspension, the Sports Tribunal were lenient after being satisfied he hadn't intentionally cheated and found his taking of prohibited substance tamoxifen was not for performance-enhancing purposes. He was instead suspended from playing for just 12 months in August 2014.[11]

In March 2017, Dawson re-signed with the Canterbury Rams for the 2017 season.[17]

On 18 December 2017, Dawson was banned for four years for his second anti-doping rule breach since 2014.[18][19] He was suspended for the presence of a prohibited substance, higenamine, in a sample taken from him at a National Basketball League (NBL) game on May 27. The four-year period of disqualification was backdated to 31 July 2017 with Dawson banned from all organised sport until 30 July 2021.[20]